Incident Overview
A pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during landing, the airplane veered left. Despite attempts to correct the direction with rudder and brake tapping, the aircraft entered a ground loop. The pilot expressed the belief that the landing gear was out of alignment.
Damage and Inspection
Photographs of the fuselage damage, as provided by an FAA inspector, were consistent with a hard landing and ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and windscreen. The FAA inspector noted that the last annual inspection was conducted on October 1, 2014.
Weather Conditions
An automated weather observation station located 31 miles north of the accident site reported that, around the time of the accident, the wind was from 220° at 3 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 29.